Kids and Dogs Part of County’s Youth Education InitiativeBy Vy Townsend Malik
Staff Writer
What does a compassionate, gentle, professional youth officer have in common with a slobbering, lumbering, disciplined bloodhound?
They bring J.K. H.O.P.E. – Just Kids Hands On Pet Education – to the youth of Van Zandt County. The unique intervention program provides those ages 6-18 an opportunity to share respect, responsibility and care for animals through hands-on experiences.
Primary Prevention and Supervision Officer Venetia Stanley works at the county’s Youth Multi Service Center, taking her 120-pound, red bloodhound Big Mac to youth in the Juvenile Probation Department, to school groups and to the Canton Animal Shelter where she helps young people develop skills using the natural relationships and unique bonds that develop when kids become responsible for caring for animals.
School Programs
The J.K. H.O.P.E. Program works daily in the Canton Animal Shelter and on special occasions for Citizens League for Animal Welfare (C.L.A.W.) and the Humane Society, in adoption clinics and in small groups at schools. She and Big Mac are weekly visitors at Grand Saline schools, and in the fall she hopes they will become regulars with the fifth-graders of Fruitvale Elementary School. Stanley hopes to work also in the Canton school.
Big Mac shows off his obedience training and special tricks to students in a small group setting, they get to pet him and learn not to be afraid. They also learn the safe way to approach a dog and ask their owner if they can pet it.
Stanley says one of the purposes of the program is to address the truancy problem by giving students an opportunity to be responsible for an animal. “They gain self-esteem and learn responsibility. If they like themselves because they are helping someone and if they know someone believes in them, they are more likely to stay in school,” Stanley said.
Stanley’s overall goal for the program is to help youth to develop a sense of responsibility – to animals, to other people and to themselves in completing tasks. Through this creative approach the goal is to allow youth the opportunity to experience success and become more socially adjusted and productive members of the community.
“I want them to learn social skills and to learn to do something really well. I try to make a difference in their lives by teaching them the satisfaction and joy of working with animals.”
Canton Shelter
During the summer from 9:00 AM until noon, Monday through Friday, kids in the program get to spend quality time at the Canton shelter being with animals. The program pays the shelter for the “use” of their dogs.
Although the shelter is a “kill shelter” Stanley has seen very few animals that had to be put down. People seem to come every day to find a new pet for their home. And, Stanley admits she does take lots of kittens home to be her “barn cats.” “I want to give them at least a chance at a good life,” she says.
Kennels, which are immaculate, need cleaning every day. The participants feed the dogs first and then take a break so the dogs can eat in a calm environment. It is rare that the shelter has a dog that cannot be trusted to interact with the program participants.
Then the kids go to work – moving dogs from kennels that need cleaning to those already clean. They remove the leftover food, and someone takes on the task of washing all the food dishes. Others remove the waste on the kennel floors, wet the floors with hoses and scrub with detergent and a long-handled brush.
After rinsing the floor with the hose, the next step is to squeegee the floor to get rid of most of the water, and then use towels to dry it more so a dog will not slip and fall.
Once those tasks are done, the kids get leashes and take the animals outside in the enclosed yard for running and playing on agility equipment, teaching them tricks and being together in a social situation.
The kids work on obedience training with their animals, and Stanley reminds them that success comes in baby steps, and giving the dogs a soft “cheerleading praise.” After the outside time, the kids bring the dogs back in, put them in their individual kennel and usually sit down to pet and talk to their charges.
Building trust is a two-way process that can happen in such situations. The students learn the importance of responsible pet ownership and can feel good about having a part in getting a dog ready to be adopted.
Food, clean environment, exercise, disciplines and love . . . that is probably a winning combination not just for dogs but for humans as well.
It is three hours of hard work, but the rewards are great when a kid and a dog get to snuggle up together.
Stanley’s Mission
Stanley grew up in Houston and has lived in Wood County for 30 years. Her husband Kevin is a paramedic, and they have three daughters, two grandsons and one granddaughter – and lots of animals.
Though her education was in journalism at San Jacinto Junior College and the University of Houston, she said, “I have always been around kids, and I want to make a difference in their lives.
“My parents were always there for us, their kids. Even if both parents have to work, they still have a responsibility to build a family and to be a parent.
“I believe that a tired kid is a good kid, so I keep them busy. Kids cannot handle a continuous lack of supervision, so I concentrate on being present with them, staying positive. I remind myself that baby steps of responsibility and care aren’t only for gaining the trust of dogs but that approach also works for gaining the trust of kids and teaching them to be responsible.”
So many good character traits that parents want for their children are experienced and learned in the J.K. H.O.P.E. program – patience, compassion, motivation, problem-solving, self-discipline, nurturing and healthy grieving. And much of it comes from loving a dog and being loved in return.
Thanks, Big Mac.